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20 nominations from readers

• Because he has proved he is one of the best social entrepreneurs that there are around and also his capacity to support others in their plans despite his obvious heavy work load. His capacity to the customer first is a welcome and supportive characteristic and one that should be recognised.

  Nominated by Danny Maher, 03 May 2008

• Uday should win this award becuase he is enormously knowledgeable, a source of inspiration, alays ready to take on a new challenge and to devote considerable time to supporting others in their quest to get new social enterprises going. He is very amenable towork with and a constant source of support

  Nominated by Jon Pushkin, 03 May 2008

• Uday should win this award because he is tireless in helping others. He works very long hours to help others. He is always coming up with new ways of doing things or showing things. He is demanding but only because he wants each of us to do their best. So much of the time he gives to us is free. He could easily work in the commercial sector and be better remunerated but he is passionate about social enterprise and gets his reward in making his sector progress. He is always willing to help individuals and groups. The sector should be proud to have him so involved. Those of us who work with him know him to be inspirational and a great motivator. We need to acknowledge what he has done for us. That is why I believe he deserves this award.

  Nominated by Euma Fernandes, 03 May 2008

• Uday is very passionate, a valuable source of support and knowledge and shows a rare commitment to helping others achieve their dreams, as he has done.

  Nominated by Anamika Bhatt, 04 May 2008

• Uday deserves to win the award as he is time and time again giving more of his energy, wisdom and time than is strictly needed to those coming to him for advice; he takes pleasure in sharing his considerable knowledge with his mentees and goes the extra mile in supporting them in what is sometimes a rollercoaster ride.

  Nominated by Ulrike Julie Hensel, 04 May 2008

• Uday should win the award for Social Enterprise Mentor of the Year, because he has knowledge that he readily shares; the experience to guide individuals and enterprises through tricky situations; and for being honest, decent and kind. Uday knows that there is another way and we can make our world better. Uday deserves this award in recognition for his brilliant attitude and continuous effort. The award will signal that he is a trustworthy and valuable mentor.

  Uday works incredibly hard at helping other people set up and run their social enterprises, while running one himself. His calm manner is backed up with determination and the stamina to see a good idea to fruition. Uday's commitment to equality and fairness is sterling. He also has the wisdom to see several sides to each situation and the clarity of vision to give straight forward replies. Uday maintains an optimism about people's ability to renew themselves, while remaining a good judge of character. If Uday wins this award, it will give him recognition, so that other people will benefit in future from his advice.

  Nominated by David Tootill, 05 May 2008

• Uday is extremely experienced but works in a very empowering style. As the adviser appointed by Futurebuilders to work with us on our business plan, he has been effective, supportive and encouraged us to be aspirational and at the same time, robust in our planning models. At every meeting, he offers exactly the right question or comment which enables us to work through the next stage ourselves and learn from the experience - he's just brilliant.

  Nominated by Jan Lennox, 06 May 2008

• Uday has been willing to go over and above the call of duty to be of assistance to our small charity as we seek ways of being more sustainable.

  Nominated by Rita Omonigho, 06 May 2008

• Uday should win the award because he offers excellent consultation to vulnerable groups and because he goes the extra mile...He has offered us training, one-to-one consultation, leadership consultation, funding advice...

  Our organisation was at a critical stage, Uday helped identify the areas that needed to be addressed, stepd for strategic development and then has gone the extra mile to offer one-to-one mentoring for our leader to help him idenify areas that require visionary leadership.

  Nominated by Sandjea Clarke, 06 May 2008

• Uday should win this award because of his hard work in helping others especially young inxperience entrepreneurs and his dedication to promote social business in the community.

  Nominated by Patricia Titti, 06 May 2008

• This person has provided a service to the BME communities in South London, and from the meeetings we have attended which were orginised by Red Ocre, it is clear that Red Ocre has made a major contribution to getting BME organisations take part in the Social Enterprise programmes. Uday himself has been the driving force for good in all this.

  Nominated by Edward Lubega, 07 May 2008

• Red Ochre conducted a very good feasibility study in a short space of time. However, since then Uday has has been in touch to help me in my role to sustain HHLC. This support and expertise has been very welcome and helpful in developing my role as well as the organisation as a whole.

  Uday is a well respected person within the voluntary sector. Uday also has also worked with social enterprise organisations and has developed a great reputation as well as proven successes.

  Nominated by Usma Raja, 07 May 2008

• Uday is passionate about helping the voluntary and social enterpise sector believe in themselves but also inspires them to keep going. His personal interest and knowledge leaves you in no doubt that you and your organisation are really important to him. He must deal with so many organisations but the ability he has to make you feel special and important is refreshing and inspiring.

  Nominated by Judith Smith, 09 May 2008

• Uday's tireless efforts need to be recognised beyond the growing numbers that have directly benefited from his input. Not only does he give so much of his own time and energy to others he encourages others in his team to do the same. Red Ochre has gained a very good reputation for support to social enterprise built on Uday's lead and motivation.

  Nominated by Chris Beales, 12 May 2008

• Uday Thakkar of Red Ochre has been extremely supportive of me, provided business support and advice at a really challenging time.

  Nominated by Jude Habib, 12 May 2008

• Uday’s tireless efforts need to be recognised beyond the growing numbers that have directly benefited from his input. Not only does he give so much of his own time and energy to others he encourages others in his team to do the same. Red Ochre has gained a very good reputation for support to social enterprise built on Uday’s lead and motivation.

  Nominated by Jefferson Kwamina-Crystal, 12 May 2008

• Visionary, entrepreneurial and unafraid to take a risk

  Nominated by Julian Bond, 13 May 2008

• Uday provides a unique person centred and tailored mentoring service. The way he works is an inspiration itself is able to instill belief that the sky is the limit if you truly believe in yourself. Fear of growth development and change is normal and that it should be channeled positively. His calm persona adds to his ability to inspire and assist you in getting the results you need. He is a unique individual who works tirelessly. Quite often unique individuals such as Uday who make a huge difference to individuals and therefore communities, go unnoticed the award is one way of recognising this special person and saying thank you and continue to do what you are doing.

  Nominated by casita Sumner, 15 May 2008

• Uday has vision, and ideal mentoring and presentation skills from which many other third sector organisations could benefit. His value system and calm ethical, businesslike approach to recognising the dilemmas and challenges of the voluntary adoption and fostering sector which provides a public sector service for the most vulnerable children in society, has been invaluable. As the incoming CEO in 2005, I had years of experience in social work, research and management, but lacked experience of social enterprise. Uday’s vision and commitment has ensured the work of this agency is sustainable and that we are better equipped to continue our pioneering and innovative focus . (e.g., we have raised the media profile of the increasing number of children permanently brain damaged by their mother’s binge drinking and drug taking in pregnancy). Uday’s sincerity and support has encouraged me, as the CEO to have the confidence to use my initiative. He has encouraged my resilience, developed my entrepreneurial approach, but focused my passion on behalf of the children with whom we work.

  I had had the `benefit` of several other consultants on my path to recovery and sustainability, some of whom de-skilled rather than motivated or inspired me. In stark contrast, Uday has always been extremely approachable, and motivating; he has harnessed my developing skills and his recognition of the need for collaborative arrangements has been consistent. If he wins this award, he will have greater standing and credibility. I feel certain he will have more influence to inspire others who are passionate, enthusiastic and committed, but have less experience of the third sector and the world of social enterprise where a shared value system and vision is so crucial.

  Nominated by edwina brocklesby, 17 May 2008

• I know how busy Uday is because he is always helping people. He also involves his team at Red Ochre and they too are very helpful. Many people I know have benefited from their help and more and more people want to tap into their services. Uday deserves recognition for what he has been doing.

  Nominated by Janet Bakar, 18 May 2008

3 comments from readers

• Uday's experienced and empowering style of work has been effective, supportive and encouraged our organisation to be aspirational and embark on an entreprineurial way of working / thinking. Uday aways seems to be able to interpret and translate complicated and technical issues into digestable no-jargon language- ask hime about all the social enterprise models and his answer is just brilliant, clear and understandable. We certainly hope to be knocking on his door for a long time to come.

  Submitted by Cambridge House - Burger Edwards, 19 May 2008

• Uday recently gave the whole MyBnk team a pro bono session from which we all came out feeling energized and mindful. He is a fantastic listener and throughout the session made sure all the team members had a chance to be heard.

  Uday is able to convey business advice and general guidance without ever being patronizing or undermining the worth and work that has already gone into a project. Days after the session, I could still overhear the MyBnk team talking about how great Uday had been. We look forward to working with him again and again.

  Submitted by The MyBnk team all 7 of us!, 05 June 2008

• Uday is a great mentor because he combines a wealth of knowledge and experience with the ability to really listen to those he helps, enabling their vision to become reality and coming up with some fantastic ideas!

  Submitted by Melanie Robinson, 05 June 2008